Jesus said, "The power of darkness are yours."

While He was still speaking, behold, a crowd came, and the one called Judas, one of the twelve, was preceding them; and he approached Jesus to kiss Him.  But Jesus said to him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”  When those who were around Him saw what was going to happen, they said, “Lord, shall we strike with the sword?”  And one of them struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his right ear.  But Jesus answered and said, “Stop! No more of this.” And He touched his ear and healed him. Then Jesus said to the chief priests and officers of the temple and elders who had come against Him, “Have you come out with swords and clubs as you would against a robber? While I was with you daily in the temple, you did not lay hands on Me; but this hour and the power of darkness are yours.”

In the New Testament, the apostle Paul taught us that our struggle in not against flesh and blood.  But instead against power, principalities, and dark forces of this age.  And this is what Jesus is declaring here.  In the midst of His betrayal by Judas, the one they call Iscariot, Jesus declares that while he was teaching in the open, even in the Temple of God, he was not interrupted.  Now, while he prays in the garden, gangs come against Him as with a robber or a criminal.   This instigation is the work of Satan, the Man of Perdition, and Jesus declares rightly that the power of darkness is yours.

Daily Prayer:  Lord Jesus, the forces of evil are constant in this world.  It is possible to live apart from them by taking refuge in You.  If the world went against you and stuck you, they will surely do so to Your followers.  For this reason, I don’t ask that You build me up as though I can war against the Evil One along, but instead I ask for Your protection so that when forces of darkness oppress me, You will deliver  me.  In Your holy name I pray Amen.